CHAPTER 395: CHAPTER 349 XIAO MOUNTAIN

"Ugh!"

Even though it was noon, with the sun high overhead, Shang Ruyi suddenly shivered unexplainably.

They had just finished their lunch in the dining hall and were walking along the corridor, preparing to return to the rear quarters to rest. They had just reached the side hall entrance when everything around was quiet, and suddenly she let out a soft exclamation, prompting Shen Wuzheng beside her to immediately ask, "What’s wrong?"

Yu Wenye also looked down at her.

Shang Ruyi herself found it inexplicable. It was clearly not cold, and this was a temple. The Bodhisattva in the side hall looked at them with kind and serene eyes, so why did she suddenly shiver?

She gently shook her head, "It’s nothing."

Just then, hurried and familiar footsteps suddenly came from ahead. Lifting her head, she saw Mu Xian rushing toward them.

He had been guarding at the base of Wanggang Village, so his return meant there was a change in Wanggang Village!

Indeed, as he approached, he first saluted them with clasped hands and then immediately said, "Second Young Master, Young Madam, Young Master Shen, there’s movement at Wanggang Village."

Yu Wenye immediately asked, "What’s happening?"

"Xiao Yuansui has gone up the mountain!"

"...!"

Hearing this, Yu Wenye and Shen Wuzheng exchanged a glance; Yu Wenye asked, "When did he go up the mountain?"

"This morning."

"How many people did he bring?"

"Only seven or eight companions."

"Seven or eight?"

Yu Wenye frowned, while Shang Ruyi, beside him, widened her eyes in surprise, "He didn’t bring extra troops?"

Mu Xian, with a grave expression, said, "No, I specifically had someone search the route, and indeed, no other troops were found accompanying him. Just these few people went up the mountain; moreover, it was the third lord of Wanggang Village who personally came down to greet him."

Yu Wenye thought for a moment and then asked, "Then afterward, was there any movement on the mountain?"

Mu Xian shook his head and said, "Absolutely none."

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi frowned immediately. Could it be that with this return of Xiao Yuansui, he didn’t intend to break with Wang Quyi, and Wanggang Village remained united and solid as an iron barrel?

Or—

She turned to look at Yu Wenye and murmured, "Is it the third possibility you mentioned?"

"..."

Yu Wenye glanced at her without speaking.

Instead, Shen Wuzheng beside them said, "Are you speculating that Xiao Yuansui may not intend to bring back a large force, using this method to gain Wang Quyi’s trust, letting him lower his guard, and then seizing the opportunity to take him down?"

Yu Wenye said, "Based on my previous encounters with him, it is a possibility."

"..."

"But he brought back too few men."

"..."

"Even if he finds the opportunity to act against Wang Quyi and eliminate this major threat, there are still many inside Wanggang Village, even Wang Quyi’s brothers. He only brought seven or eight people up the mountain. Once the opposition retaliates, he won’t even have a chance to fight back."

"..."

"Unless—"

Shang Ruyi hurriedly asked, "Unless what?"

Yu Wenye looked at her, his eyes seeming to hold a trace of complex feelings. After a moment, he shook his head, "Instead of speculating here, we should just go and see."

As with the previous results of their wait at the foot of Wanggang Village for Li Wen Yang, some outcomes are not revealed until the very last moment.

Shen Wuzheng nodded, "Let’s go."

The three of them immediately headed outside the temple.

As they reached the main entrance, they happened to encounter the Abbot leading a few monks towards the main hall. Yu Wenye paused in thought, then turned back to the Abbot, "Abbot, has your young disciple been found?"

The old monk gave a bitter smile, "We’ve searched all day, and there’s still no trace of him. I don’t know where this child has run off to again. I just hope he doesn’t encounter any danger outside."

Yu Wenye nodded and turned to leave.

Mu Xian also knew that with his return to report, they would certainly head towards the base of Wanggang Village, so he had people prepare horses in advance. After leaving the temple, the three mounted their horses and swiftly departed Yanyue City.

Galloping under the blazing sun is naturally harder than at other times, not to mention that each of them harbored unresolved doubts, and the feeling of the unknown, that could make one misstep into the void, was even more excruciating.

Fortunately, after more than an hour, they reached the mountain base again.

Here, as when they left two days ago, was still picturesque. The pavilion still stood quietly at the mountain’s base, the surrounding maple leaves yet to turn red, though a bit of glaring scarlet adorned the scenery.

Yu Wenye spurred his horse, leaping onto the dirt slope.

The stallion slowly walked to the pavilion outside when Yu Wenye suddenly tightened his grip, causing the horse to halt abruptly.

Shang Ruyi and Shen Wuzheng quickly followed, only to see him stop outside the pavilion, his back seeming to stiffen. Shang Ruyi hurried her horse forward, softly saying, "What’s wrong, you—"

Before she could finish speaking, she too froze.

The grand stone stele now quietly, yet seemingly with an invisible roar, loomed before them.

The words "Wanggang" above it had somehow been chiseled away.

Now, the words "Xiao Mountain" were in full view!

The lettering was deep, painted in bright red. When a breeze passed, it carried with it a slight scent of blood to their noses, making the words seem like a bloodstained sword, piercing into their hearts.

Shang Ruyi’s breath stopped.

Xiao Mountain?

Xiao Mountain!

In that moment, the prophecy song seemed to echo in her ears once more—After Three Generations of Imperial Map, Wanggang seizes the people’s mouths. Phoenix Cry on Xiao Mountain, behold Mizhou.

Phoenix Cry on Xiao Mountain...

If before, she could still believe Yu Wenye’s words, saying that this prophecy song was merely vague and ambiguous; but since Chu Yang’s demise at Jiangdu Palace, the events predicted by the song could no longer be dismissed as mere coincidence, as the rebel army would seize the grain, so "Wanggang seizes the people’s mouths" was more than just coincidence.

After Three Generations of the Imperial Map—when this song emerged, the late Emperor Chu Yin was still reigning, and who would have known that after Chu Yang’s death, Yu Wenquan would enthrone Prince Zhao, Chu Chengfei?

So, Three Generations of Imperial Map had already come true!

Moreover, to Shang Ruyi, she understood clearly that the Chu Family Dynasty could only last until this third generation, as the next dynasty’s Grand Ancestor, the Emperor Gaozu, was already in possession of time, place, and human harmony.

And Phoenix Cry on Xiao Mountain...

Shang Ruyi suddenly felt a numbing chill on her back, instinctively turning to look at Yu Wenye.

Phoenix Cry on Xiao Mountain?

It was at this time, seeing the blood-red "Xiao Mountain" characters, a trace of ruthless bloodlust seemed to appear in Yu Wenye’s eyes as he suddenly ordered, "Mu Xian, give me your knife."